I feel like I am slowing my exercise to stay within target heart rate??

I just started using a heart rate monitor when I exercise. I am trying to stay within the 60-80% range, but sometimes I feel like I have to slow my exercising to stay below or at 80%. Am I still benefiting??

I feel like I am slowing my exercise to stay within target heart rate??

Well, there really is no target heart rate range, unless you are training for endurance sports. Then you would want to get to your lactate threshold and attempt to keep it just under there. But as a strength and conditioning specialist, what I recommend is interval training.

I too have a heart rate monitor and usually what I do is intervals based on my heart rate rather than time. Being 25 I get my heart rate up to 180 as quick as I can then slow my run or cycle cadence to get me down to 140, then I shoot it back up to 180, and so on and so forth. I do that about 8 times. Research supports that this is much better for weight loss than Long Slow Distance (LSD) training. LSD training makes you very efficient with your energy source. If you are trying to lose weight, you want to be inefficient.

I describe it like this; your car has much better mileage on long freeway trips because there is not the stop-go-stop-go of city traffic. In the city you get horrible mileage and are inefficient with your energy source (i.e. gasoline). Your body operates the same way. Once you hit what we call steady-state your body learns to become efficient. Which is not what you want when trying to lose weight.

However, if you are not trying to lose weight, but training for performance, well thats a whole other answer.

I feel like I am slowing my exercise to stay within target heart rate??

How old are you. I am in my late 20%26#039;s and I let my heart rate go up to 85%. Any movement that you do will benefit you. I would talk to your Dr. about a healthy heart rate for you. You may be able to do a little more than 80%.